Government fails to cut ice with strike leaders

HYDERABAD: Talks between the state government and Telangana government employees went nowhere on Wednesday with the latter adopting a political posture on the larger Telangana issue and the government pleading its helpnessness on it.The employees also put on the table several preconditions relating to punitive action taken against the strikers. The government promised to consider them and the two sides dispersed after agreering to meet again.The cabinet sub-committee on employees’ issues chaired by deputy chief minister C Damodar Rajanarsimha urged the leaders of the Joint Action Committees (JACs) of Telangana employees, teachers, gazetted officers and workers to call off their 30-day-old strike in support of the Sakala Janula Samme for a separate Telangana.The staff refused to do so, asserting they were forced to join the strike due to the failure of the political system. The preconditions they put included: withdrawal of the Essential Services Maintenance Act clamped on some services and GO 177 which invokes the no-workno- pay principle; withdrawal of police cases against some strikers; a probe into the attack on employee leader Swamy Goud; and action against the policemen responsible for it.The subcommittee promised to discuss the conditions with chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. The meeting lasted for about 45 minute. Rajanarasimha tried to impart an emotional pitch to the talks by appealing to the employees as a fellow Telanganite and pointing out the difficulties caused to farmers, students and ordinary people.“We will be blamed for spoiling the future of our students and farmers by this strike. I appeal to you to consider the welfare of all the three regions of the state, particularly Telangana,” he said.In response, Telangana Employees’ JAC chairman K Swamy Goud is understood to have found fault with the cabinet for failing to take adequately coney the Telangana people’s sentiments to the Centre. “We (Telangana employees) have not celebrated Dasara this year as we identify with the people’s aspirations. But this is only the calm before the storm. We urge you to create a conducive atmosphere for talks on the larger Telangana issue,” said.The JAC leaders criticised the government for vengefully initiating sack orders against some strike leaders.However, the deputy CM denied any such intentions. Talking to newsmen later, the JAC leaders asserted that the strike would continue. “We want a permanent solution to the issue. We want Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and take a decision on Telangana. Only then will we withdraw the Sakala Janula Samme,’’ they added. Later in the evening, the cabinet sub-committee members -- deputy CM Rajanarasimha, ministers Ramanarayana Reddy (finance), N Raghuveera Reddy (revenue), D Prasada Rao (roads & buildings), P Sabita Reddy (home), M Mukesh Goud (marketing) and D Nagender (labour) -- met the chief minister and conveyed the proceedings.No decision was taken at the meeting. The sub-committee will meet the chief minister again at 12.30 pm on Thursday